Vaseline

VASELINE, F (VII), Vaselinum flavum, Vaselinum album, Cosmolinum, Petrolatum (Amer.), represents a thick product of a paste-like consistency, obtained from crude petroleum after the distillation of kerosene and other lighter products [the name V. was given by the American Chesebrough, combining the beginning of the German word Wasser-water and the Greek elaion-oil]. There are two types of V.: natural and artificial. Natural V. was initially produced only in America from Pennsylvania petroleum; later it began to be prepared in Germany, Galicia and Russia. To obtain it, petroleum residues are treated with concentrated H₂SO₄ when heated to 160°, then washed with water, deodorized, decolorized with carbon or other decolorizing agents (floridin, kaolin, etc.) and distilled with superheated steam. Artificial V. is prepared by fusing vaseline oil with paraffin and ceresin or with ceresin alone in the ratio 1:5, 1:10. V. represents a mixture of low-melting paraffinic and cyclic hydrocarbons: in natural V.-closely related to each other (approximately from C₁₂ to C₂₅), in artificial V.-a mixture of liquid up to C₁₈ and solid from C₂₀. V. can be white and yellow, which depends on the degree of decolorization. Natural V. (the American is considered the best in quality) represents a non-granular, homogeneous, transparent, viscous mass that can be drawn into a thread, without any taste or smell, of neutral reaction; melts at about 36-44°, boils, decomposing, above 300°; specific gravity 0.855-0.885; insoluble in water, very slightly in alcohol, with difficulty in chloroform and ether, mixes in all proportions with gasoline, fatty and essential oils. Air and light at ordinary temperature do not act on vaseline. Artificial V. differs from natural V. in appearance and properties: it is cloudy, granular, less viscous, melting point 35-50°; when standing in the air, especially in warmth, it stratifies, i.e. the liquid part comes to the surface; under the microscope very thin delicate crystals in the form of silky needles are visible, consisting of paraffin. According to Golde, to distinguish natural V. from artificial, the following test is applied: the product to be tested is placed on an unglazed porcelain plate or a piece of brick and left for a day; if V. is natural, the test remains unchanged; with artificial V.-scales of paraffin remain on the surface, and vaseline oil is absorbed by the clay. V. is a very good base for ointments, since it does not become bitter, does not decompose, is quite indifferent to many chemical products that react with vegetable or animal fats. Among the shortcomings of V. must be mentioned the melting point, close to body temperature, and the inability to penetrate through the skin, due to which medicinal substances are poorly retained on the skin surface and their entry into the body is hindered. Prescribing V. with lanolin, one can partly eliminate these shortcomings. V. is also used by itself for softening the skin, protecting it from physical and chemical influences, during massage and as a base for cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. The main ones are: Ungt. Acidi borici (1:9); Ungt. diachylon [50% (ФУ11)]; Ungt. Hydrarg. album [50% (ФУИ)]; Ungt. Hydrarg. oxydati [1:49 (ФУИ)]; Ungt. Plumbi tannici [40% (ФУИ)]; Ungt. sulfurat. compos. [57% (ФУИ)]; Ungt. Zinci salicylati [Pasta Lassari, 48% (ФУП)]; Vaselinum benzoico-salicylat. (Lassari, 94%); Vasel. carbolisatum (3:97); Vasel. salicylat. (2:98); Ungt. Lanovaselini (50%). Lit.: Mentin N. F., Kurs farmakognozii, SPB, 1901; Hagers Handbuch d. pharmazeutischen Praxis, B. II, B., 1925-27; Die Untersuchung d. Arzneimittel des deutschen Arzneibuches, hrsg. von Th. Paul, Munchen, 1927.

A. Ginzberg.

Vasenol, Vasenol, a fatty base for ointments, easily emulsifying, of a paste-like consistency, yellowish in color, neutral. Consists of a mixture of mineral oil (vaseline), lanolin, wax and 25% water. When mixed with water, it absorbs several volumes of it; mixes with fats and many medicinal substances. Preparations of vasenol: 1) Vasenolum liquidum with 33⅓% water, serves for lubricating the skin and mixes with liquid medicinal substances (Burov's solution, lime water); 2) Vasenol-formalinum (5-10% formalin)-against foot sweat; 3) vasenol powder-a powder base (zinc oxide and talc) with 10% vasenol.